Strike: No payment alert, no resumption – FCT teachers insist

By Stanley Onyekwere

The striking primary school teachers under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have refused to call off their action  until they receive credit alert of their outstanding salaries and entitlements.

This was asserted by the FCT Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, after a crucial meeting of the union’s State Wing Executive Council at the Teachers House in Gwagwalada.

This was despite efforts by the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to resolve the issue, the teachers remain resolute in their stance. During a meeting at the minister’s official residence, the teachers emphasized that they will not return to work until their demands are met.

Recall that the teachers have been on strike since March, demanding the payment of unpaid arrears and other entitlements.

According to Comrade  Shafas, stated that there was a unanimous resolution among the union’s members that teachers would only resume classes once they receive their outstanding payments.

He reiterated that the teachers are willing to return to work as soon as they start receiving alerts for their payments.

He however, commended  Wike for withholding 10% of the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the  Area councils for the past six months, as resources  to settle

70% of the issues that caused strike.

He also appreciated the minister’s decision to set up a committee to address other pending demands of the teachers.